Shock absorber for inverted lamps



June 10, 1930. A. JT THoMPsoN SHOCK ABSORBER FOR INVERTD LAMPS 4Filed Jan. 1e; 19'28 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HornuK June`l0, 1930. A.J. THOMPSON SHOCK ABSORBER FOR INVERTED LAMPS Filed Jan. 16, 192e 2 sheets-sheep 2 45 sorptiveeffect of thespring.

Patented Jane 10,1930

`4IUNITEDSTMES PATENT OFFICE N ALLrsoN zr." triroiurs`olv,` on CLEVELAND, `omo r snoek Aissonisnn non Invnit'rnn Lei/irs Appneatioaalea January 16, 192s. yseriainaamoea.

i `This invention relates to the type of lamp ffixture adaptedto support an incandescent electric `lamp fin inverted` position, that `is t with the lamp `bulb portion upstanding from the base portion thereof as distinguished from ya the `more customary pendent relation ofbulb f portion tobase portion; and more` particui "larly the invention pertains to the provision in such a fixture of means for saving thelamp 1C` from thedestructive effect of shocks and jars which might otherwise be transmittedlthereto from the fixture supporting means.

" `Inthe usual electriclamp installation the normal position of the lamp is pendent, that i155. is, the `fixture is arranged with the lamp Te i i i ceiving socket opening downwards, whereby 1 alampin the socket is positioned with its bulb ,t

\ portion below its base portion.` y Where shock l absorbing means are to be provided in` such ,t "2Q an installation itis a relatively simple matter i to support the lampreceiving base portion` @of :the iixtureupon spring` means, sincethe center ofgravity ofthe lamp and base ast i sembly falls naturally belowthe most con- 25 venient point of attachmentlbetween the as- V*semblyand the "spring means.` l t i. Where the `lamp is to bein upstanding or "inverted position however, the mass of Athe i t i "lamp` is overthe center of gravity ofthe lampf 30 and bulb assembly, whereby stabilizing means ,i

"'rmust be provided inf addition to merely re-1 silient meansfor thepurpose of maintaining such adamp position. `According to my in-A i t `vention I employ a counterweight` which 35 serves as the necessary stabilizing `means, f,

lowering the center` of gravity of thelamp t and base assembly, which assembly now also i embraces thestabilizing means, so thatthe most convenient point of attachment between 40. assembly and spring lies naturally abovethe i center of gravity. f Also, owing to its weight such stabilizing means increase the mass of the assembly and so add to its inertia properties as to greatlyincrease the vibration abi i `.Briefly the principalobject Vof ftheinven` tion therefore is to provide shock absorbing means in an inverted lamp installation. y The` invention is particularly applicable so-called street serieslamps for highway" arrange my shock absorbing. means that l.not

illumination. In `such,installations, where t the lampis supported in elevated position I froma pole located at the sideorcenter of `the i street, the vibration` of continuous `trafiic passing the pole is transmitted through` the 55 pole and multiplied thereby so that :not only is` the filamentlifeordinarily much shortglobe enclosing the lamp. l y i i A further object of myi invention is to so `ened, but alsofreqnent breakage occurs in the only the lamp, but also the` enclosingl` globe therefor,is shockinsulated, so tospeak, from the supporting pole. i

vention will be apparent from the following `description taken in `connection with theaccompanying `drawings in whichFig. `l is a side elevation ofa street series installation, parts ofthe kture being shown insection for the purpose of disclosing details ofconstruction; Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views correspondingwiththe section portion .l

.ofFig l and Fig. l is af horizontal sectionl in the plane of line 4.-4, Fig. 1; Fig. `5 is, a 75 `view generally similar to Fig. 1 but showing a fixture arrangement wherein the` globe as t well as the lamp is protected by shock absorbing means; and F ig.`6 isa detail sectionof parts appearing in lFig. 5 but `taken asin a vertical plane normal to that `of the sectionedportion of Fig. 5. ,t ,t e

With reference now to thedrawings and particularlyto Figs. l to 4 thereof, 1 is a sup-` t porting pole or ,lamp post having a laterally i extending arm 2 upon the outer end of which `is secured ahollow` ornamentalcasing. The `casing is provided in its upper portion with i an inwardly extending flange 4 upon which lamp receiving socket portion 10, and having oppositelydisposed terminal arms 11." The lamp basejis secured with the aaddleby the 1.90

Further objects and advantages tof the in` 65 so t , f. .x position;

usual bolts 12 and the saddle is provided on each side of the base with an opening in which is seated an insulating eyelet 13. Secured with the base as by threaded connection 14 centrally of and with the saddle 6 is a rod 15 which extends downwardly through the coils of the spring to the lower portion of thehollowf ot the casing3y terminating feyelets13 Ythe spring 5,y andlthrough the 'A arm 2' and "pole 1 which are of vcoursegf'iliollow7 and 'to-'connection with the supplyline."

The upper extremity of the casing'3` terminat'es with al' 'peripheral' *shouldery ias' `indiv"cate, whereby 'an annular'seat 21 is, provided for th'eglobe 22 forfthe Ylamp 23 turned into `:soclrejflO of the base. 4Secured to the upper extremity of the casing 3 as byfweld'ing at 'f 24de collar'25 having for' drainage purposes I "anumber o'fl'not'rclies `26and carrying a num- Z v"b'eij 'i ofl wingnuts 127 by f which the 'globe 22 "may'beremovably secured 'with the casing in theusual fashion. Y

The :strength of the spring is such that the lamplbase', rod and'weight; assembly will be 'Y fres'ilientlfy supported thereby, and lthelength "of the rod and size of the weight ares'uch .Qs-5It "i vvtainthe 'lamp' in upstanding or invertediposi- 'that the baseis counterbalanced to mainjtion; as indicated and olearef the lined sleeve g 17" interposed between'the weight and the basing. In other wordsthe assemblyis sta? bili'zedwith thelampin the desired inverted 4"Obviously, by ythe varrangement described the' lar'np'is yieldably maintained in invert* .4 edposition, "being'resiliently Ysupported on tlie 5f and'movablel with swinging mot1on' :ther`eon vto the limit `of the Swinging `motion oiz' the weight withinfthe soft lining of the sleeve 17. Ihe lamp isthus insulated directlybyfthe spring from any verti'calvibrationof thearm 2,(and any ordinary horizontal vibrations ottlie arm are absorbedby 'l tliei 'inertia action of E116 described| assembly seate'd' 'on thefspring, which :yields horizontally under Such COidithS., Mld the .Cl'earene tra@ @signaal/'annatesleeve resultaat jor' Suclipurpose; Should Qhoriz'ontalvib'rationsbefexcessive enough tof'effe'ct, ,Contact between V thefyveight and the. lining 19, the lining is soft 'enugh 'and the ro`d15 long t 'enoughf to prevent' injurious etects on the flamplilament, andthe arrangement"'obviou'sly limits th'etilting motion'of the lamp.

`llteferr'ii1g now'to' the modification appearing in Figs. 5"and`6, in wh'ich'similar' parts bear similar reference numerals,l the saddle Wires 20 lead from thefterininal' 6 with which the porcelain base portion 9 is secured by bolts 8 as before, is extended peripherally about the upper extremity of the casing 3 and downwardly turned for the purpose of excluding the elements from the interior of the casing. Ihe bottom of the casing is open as indicated and bears a liner 19 of relatively soft material. Extending from connection with the Vsaddle 6 downwards through the casing is a tubular member Seulfed .with ths'baSe-.by the bolts 8- The members 6 and 15 are supported onl a spring .5 the .upper convolution of which tits closely about the member 15 and bears against the member 6. V"Ihrough the vupper hollow portion of the memberl extend lead wires 20 which'carry currentto thelamp base. Se-

cured within 4an upstanding flange 25 car ried by the v'saddle 6 is a globe v22. In the lower extremity of the member 15 Ais a weight 16. VThe weight` 16 is correspondingly greater ythan the'weight 16 as'v the mass of the lamp plus that oi the globe'is greater than that 4of the lamp alone. l f I t will be seen, that thearrangement set forth in Figsg and 6 is one` where in `not only is thelamp supported on the' spring 5 but the'globe is also'sosupported and counter- `balanced by the Vweight 16. i The fu'nptioningof this arrangement issimilar to that already describedofthe sliowingiof Figs. 1

to vinclusive, `with, the exception of course, ythat thefglobe as well as the lamp is protected from shocks. i Y i What I claim is: 1. In alamp ixture, a fixedoasinghaving an upper opening, a saddle adapted tocarry alamp and having a'portion extending. over and about said opening to protectuthev same Jfrom' the elements, said saddle .being adapted to carry a lamp and a globe therefor, means forresi-liently supportingsaid saddle, on said casing',L and counterbalance vmeans extending within said .casing belowI` said supporting means and associated .with said. saddle to maintain said lamp andrglobe in .uprightposition above saidopening.

2. In a lamp fixture,' a fixedlnasing, a saddle adapted to `carry' a lamp, means vfor vresiliently supporting -said 'saddle on saidv casing, vC unterbalance means associated with the saddle. to maintain saidlamp in upright position, and extending: into. said .casing vbelow saidsupporting means, and buffer means i ng, anda counterbalancemass withinV said.y

arranged-between said casing and said coun- Casing below the lever of said arm and xedly associated with the saddle and otherwise free to move Within said casing, to yeldably maintain said lamp in upright position.

In testmonywhereo'f I hereby aHX my signature;

`ALLsoN JQ THOMPSON. 

